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Changing differential fluid - A step by step "HOW TO"

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by brianr, Jan 21, 2009.

  1. Sep 6, 2015 at 8:15 PM
    #1881
    Dirtboyz

    Dirtboyz Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the info and for the oils drain gasket here is the one that comes on the truck from factory.

    http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Toyot...AKJD0WPY&dpSrc=sims&dpST=_AC_UL160_SR160,160_

    The other part number is the one they replace with after oil changes because they are cheaper. More like a rubber crush. The one I provided is more of a fabric style with crush washer in the middle. I like it a lot better
     
  2. Sep 7, 2015 at 3:12 PM
    #1882
    AD227529

    AD227529 Member

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    I tried to change the rear differential fluid in my 2013 Tacoma over the weekend. It has never been changed, and with 45,000 miles on the ODO, I thought it was time. For the life of me, I could not get the fill plug to come loose. I didn't even try to remove the drain plug because I would have no way to fill it back up. Does the factory over-torque these bolts? I know the spec is 36 ft/lbs, but I tried for half an hour and couldn't get it loose. I used a 6-point, 24mm socket, and a regular wrench, and I could not get it to come lose. Do I need to heat the bolt with a torch first? Does Toyota use any kind of thread locker on these bolts when they install them at the factory? Would a breaker bar help? Please help out a first timer here, as I'm at a loss for what I'm doing wrong.
     
  3. Sep 7, 2015 at 3:29 PM
    #1883
    AD227529

    AD227529 Member

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    The head is fine, never even had a socket on it until I tried to remove it. I'm using a 6-point as I read that the 12-points can round off the head. Didn't use a break bar, but I will try that. I just used a small hand socket with a 3/8 to 1/2 adapter, and I guess that just wasn't enough to torque the bolt loose. Is there thread locker on these bolts from the factory? A guy told me there was, but I find that very hard to believe.
     
  4. Sep 7, 2015 at 3:44 PM
    #1884
    TACO TX

    TACO TX Well-Known Member

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    15" 1/2" drive breaker bar.
     
    AD227529 likes this.
  5. Sep 8, 2015 at 7:13 PM
    #1885
    beavis87

    beavis87 Well-Known Member

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    A little WD40 or PB blaster sprayed on the night before will help.
     
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  6. Sep 9, 2015 at 7:16 PM
    #1886
    AD227529

    AD227529 Member

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    Got it done tonight! Thanks for the help guys. I sprayed the fill and drain bolts with some PB Blaster, and was able to break them both loose with a breaker bar. Filled it with Mobil 1 75W/90 full synthetic and replaced the crush gaskets. Torqued them both to spec. Good to go!
     
    TACO TX and DoorDing like this.
  7. Sep 10, 2015 at 1:47 PM
    #1887
    4x4Taco09

    4x4Taco09 Well-Known Member

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    Just to be sure, my 09 Sport doesn't require the additive? In the OP it says 09 and newer it doesn't require it, then it says sport models do require it.
     
  8. Sep 10, 2015 at 1:53 PM
    #1888
    xJuice

    xJuice My spoon is too Big!

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    You do not require it.
     
  9. Sep 10, 2015 at 1:56 PM
    #1889
    4x4Taco09

    4x4Taco09 Well-Known Member

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    Thank you. I didn't think so.
    Going to buy fluid and a pump now
     
  10. Sep 24, 2015 at 8:23 PM
    #1890
    FlightMedic178

    FlightMedic178 Well-Known Member

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    Replaced my rear diff oil for the first time tonight. Very straightforward especially with the help of this thread!
    My I drive a 5 lug and the manual calls for 3.66 qt, so I bought 4 quarts of 80w90 (only thing aval at my local parts store). When filling it took all 4 quarts without spilling out. (I was on ramps with the rear lifted). Also when pouring the used oil into the empty containers it was just about 4qt already in there.
    I lowered the spare tire and that gave me lots of room to refill and didn't have to use the funnel hose I purchased.
    Thanks to everyone for the words of wisdom!image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg

    image.jpg
     
  11. Sep 24, 2015 at 8:41 PM
    #1891
    FlightMedic178

    FlightMedic178 Well-Known Member

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    Huh? :) what am I missing?
     
  12. Sep 25, 2015 at 7:16 AM
    #1892
    Eazy.E

    Eazy.E Big gulps huh?!

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    Serviced front/rear diff's and T case last weekend, this was a very helpful refresher!
     
  13. Oct 16, 2015 at 12:32 PM
    #1893
    Tiberius

    Tiberius Well-Known Member

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    Changed mine on my '13 SR5 4x4 today 35k. Took about 90-100ft/lbs on the torque wrench (plus a tire iron leveraged against the axle) to break the fill free, and it is a bit buggered now but not too bad I don't think. The drain wasn't so hard and isn't buggered at all. I had sprayed WD and waited 5-10. Loosening the fill/drain took about 15-20 minutes.

    The magnet had one eyelash sized and a circular sliver of metal like a clipped nail size, and maybe 1mm of blackened/silvery metallic sludge. It smelled only a bit worse than the new stuff, and was mostly dark coffee color coming out the drain. I would say I drove through rivers up to the hub/exhaust level or so at least a dozen times in the two summers i've had to camp. Plenty of 4x4 in 4lo on "red" forest service roads. Not bad!

    Then I realized I couldn't pour directly into the funnel with the spare on, so, feeling lazy, it was tube and duct tape time (another 5 minutes) so I filled it from the side by the DS tire (took forever as my tube was the same size I use to drain the oil from the filter - 10-15 minutes).

    Took about 3 1/3 bottles of red-line, and I didn't fill, plug, and wait and fill, plug and wait like OP suggested. I just filled, waited 'til it was a drip instead of a stream, and put the bolt on at 32ft/lbs (trying to help myself next time), no new washer this time.

    The two things I would do differently:

    1) remove spare tire
    2) something better to help break the fill bolt free so I don't bugger it up, like another person, overnight wd or penetrating oil treatment, or maybe a 10 (?) sided 24mm instead of 6 (?).
     
  14. Oct 16, 2015 at 7:13 PM
    #1894
    Gooch

    Gooch Well-Known Member

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    I did this on my 2000 4x4 today. I don't think it has ever been done. 137,000 miles.

    Fill plug and drain plug came off easily. I didn't even need a breaker bar. Gear oil didn't look too bad. A decent amount of sludge on the magnet though.

    I didn't use a pump or remove my spare tire. I was able to get the bottles up there and get them mostly drained. When I had two bottles mostly drained I combined them into one and then the third bottle's remains went into that bottle. To get the diff full, I had to crumple up the bottom of the bottle a little bit to get a better angle.

    Easy peasy bottle squeezy.
     
  15. Oct 20, 2015 at 6:06 PM
    #1895
    Wolverinesam

    Wolverinesam Well-Known Member

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    The writeup on Amazon says this is the gasket for the front diff. Is it the same gasket for the rear? I have 2WD PreRunner and so don't need for the front. When I searched for "Rear Differential Drain Plug Gasket" on Amazon, it returned "Rear Axle Housing Gasket". Don't think it's the right thing. Any help? Thanks!!
     
  16. Oct 20, 2015 at 6:10 PM
    #1896
    Wolverinesam

    Wolverinesam Well-Known Member

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    How do I find out if I have a LSD and would need the additive? Thanks.
     
  17. Oct 21, 2015 at 3:23 AM
    #1897
    Wolverinesam

    Wolverinesam Well-Known Member

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    I kept the window sticker. It says the truck has an "Automatic Limited Slip Differential". Not sure if that means I have one or it is a faux LSD.
     
  18. Oct 21, 2015 at 5:46 AM
    #1898
    Gooch

    Gooch Well-Known Member

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    I thought that somewhere in this thread someone indicated that there would be a sticker on the rear cover of the differential indicating that you need an LSD additive if you have one.
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2015
  19. Oct 21, 2015 at 6:01 AM
    #1899
    Hardscrabble

    Hardscrabble Well-Known Member

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    A little of this and a little of that.
    The p/n for the rear differential drain & fill plug washer/gasket is 12157-10010. One for each plug.
     
  20. Oct 21, 2015 at 6:35 AM
    #1900
    xJuice

    xJuice My spoon is too Big!

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    anyone?

    Faux LSD
     

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